All's well that ends well -- the CIC is back from Dragon*Con (well... Hades is still in Atlanta). Unfortunately, I can only upload my pictures from home -- but Tye has posted some teasers here. Check back real soon now for my pictures and a heck of a bunch of stories. Now here's a whole pile of WC news...
Origin has announced the second Ultima Online Worlds Faire, which in traditional EA style, has been renamed something strange -- the Online Worlds Fanfest. It'll take place October 26th & 27th in Austin, Texas... and the CIC will be there! Anyone want to share a room?
I got a reply quite a while ago from EA legal that they would consider licensing the music to me. We did not discuss any terms though. That's something that I will follow up if you think there is enough interest.At this point I envision a CD of MIDI arrangements. I do have a much upgraded sample library, which I think will sound significantly better. I think using a real orchestra is prohibitively expensive in comparison to the return on the investment. Unless you know a wealthy benefactor.
I'll check on the issue with EA legal again after the holiday and let you know what transpires.
Thanks,
George Oldziey
BTW, I did see the WC movie when it first came out. I thought it was visually very good but lacked a good story and screenplay. I thought it was edited well. The music was pretty good, a little too predictable for my tastes, but it did the job.
All known bugs have been terminated.... making collisions work flawlessly. In addition, shields have been added to brightly light up when hit by various weapons. Ships bounce off each other when impacting, which adds much more realism than previously where starships flew around like ghosts in the wind.Also, the rings of saturn have been added and now shine shyly behind jupiter for those bold enough to explore the solar system! But be sure to attack those hornets sitting near earth... their shields look simply amazing... But no soul would fire on earth--would they? Anyhow enjoy the release...
Thanks for your interest and download the latest windoze version at http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/
This press release for a new and hopefully very exciting game that will be open up to the public for the first time. The game is already passed the planning stage and is entering into the construction stage. Currently we are looking for programmers for the cinematic sequences and mission construction. We may also require mapers to edit and update existing maps to some models. All new models are entering the final stretch. Check out the web page for more details and a sneak peek at the Intro.Matthew Kruer, Project Leader
Welcome to Wasteland… http://wcmods.badfellas.de/Wasteland/index.html
What are your current projects?Currently I'm working on another Lost Regiment novel and the development of a couple of projects in the area of historical fiction and mainstream history.
Would you be interested in/do you foresee writing further Wing Commander novels?
To be honest, no. Have disagreed with some of the directions taken in Wing Commander and also the issue of payment which is no longer sufficient. This is regretful since I did have a grand time writing the books, especially the stand alone ones such as Fleet Action and End Run. I've worked in several other "worlds" such as Wizard's Magic, Star Trek NG and a co authored book with Ray Feist set in his Rift War. In general, (except for Feist) the experience has been extremely frustrating. You don't own the copyright on what is in fact your work, at times you'll see less creative people without an original thought then take your ideas and distort them or claim them as their own or jerk you around with demands that you deliver "A" but then at the last minute changing it to "Z" The work with Ray, in contrast, was a wonderful shared experience and in the future I just intend to work on my own material or collaborate with a single professional like Ray, rather than a company effort like WC
Why did you turn down the offer to write the Wing Commander movie novel?
LOL Two reasons. Money, the payment offered was abysmal and insulting, I made more on my very first novel, and secondly I was, to put it mildly, disgusted by the screenplay. It was frustrating since there were so many potentially good stories within the Wing Commander world to build a movie around. When I first received the screenplay for review I was, to say the least, stunned and even if I had been offered an honest sum to write it, rather than the slave wages suggested, I would have turned it down.
Did you see the Wing Commander movie or play Wing Commander Prophecy. If so, what are your thoughts thereon?
I was trapped on a flight to England a year or so ago and the Wing Commander movie was playing. I listened in for about ten minutes, then turned off the sound and pulled on some eye shades so I didn't have to watch. Honestly! I am not prone to air sickness but I did fear for my stomach.
Yet again, given some of the great stories within Wing Commander, why they had to cook up that screenplay is a mystery. For example, the betrayal and court martial of Towlyn would have made a grand flick. I should add that I was always very partial to the Tolwyn character, seeing in him the genius, and flawed personality of a MacArthur. I had worked on the character early on into the series when he was still just a foil for the main characters and wanted to see him evolve as a complex military genius, unfortunately he was pushed in other directions by the powers that be and I did have objections to the final turn out, preferring to see him as a MacArthur/Patton/Cromwell type instead. Its why I did write in the scene involving his suicide (a story line I could not change) the part where his medals are laid out on the bunk. It's why I used him as the main POV for the book that goes back to the origins of the Kilrathi war.
Were you aware of Andrew Keith's interest in writing further Wing Commander novels? Is there any possibility of you picking up his work in his honor ala Spielberg to Kubrick?
I have tremendous respect for Andrew's work but unfortunately some one else will have to pick that mantle up.
Origin provided you with a copy of the WC2 era 'bible' for the series -- would you be willing to allow the Origin Museum (http://www.originmuseum.com) to archive this document online for posterity?
Frankly, I'm not sure if I can even locate it now. I started working on the project while still in grad school in Indiana and the bible got boxed up in a move to NC. Also, you'd have to get it cleared with the original owners since I remember there was a confidentiality statement attached to it.
Who the heck is Lyford Beverge and why does his name keep showing up in your work?
Ahh, Lyford, A very dear friend who I worked with while teaching High School in Maine. many of the characters in my different novels are named after friends, such as Mina, Beverage, Ferguson, Kindred. I also will use the names of favorite students as a little way of saluting their efforts.
The BLHQ is looking for a few (well, one) good GameMasters for their IRC based RPG! Would you like to know more?
WANTED :::: Temporary Game Master ( MirC) a temporary GM (Game Master) to provide a structured gaming session until one of the regular Campaign sessions is ready to begin. Compensation to the temporary GM will be negotiated upon contact and discussion of game needs and game length for the campaign dependent upon the length of time the temporary GM's services are required. The GM must be available on weekends for gaming activity between 2100 - 0001 EST. for gaming activity with the membership.Applicants should have a knowledge of Wing Commander , the Black Lance and gaming. Noted is that the Black Lance being portrayed is set as the Black Ops Hero’s of the confederation and Not as left in their final portrayal in WCIV. Time line currently running is post Profecy involved in the Nephilim Wars.
Applicants Please contact (Sabre) Director of Gaming Black Lance at smi-michigan@home.com for information and information.
Jochen was kind enough to send us the German Wing Commander movie times for the month of September. Here goes... (times are in CET)
Premiere 1: 2nd 22:15, 6th 18:15, 11th 23:30, 17th 20:15, 22nd 13:15, 28th 15:00
Premiere Analog: 2nd 22:15, 6th 18:15, 11th 23:30, 17th 20:15, 22nd 13:20, 28th 15:00
Okay, so the SWC movies were kind of screwed up -- possibly because Super Wing Commander's music isn't movie specific. Anyway, I'll do better next time... and next time is soon -- I'm going to redo all the SWC movies -- dozens and dozens of them; even some that... well, weren't in the game! Check back soon.
It's over! No more Privateer 2 mission updates! Yipeeeeee!
Reports have come to us telling of a pirate presence between Karatikus and Hades. The pirates are Chirichans, and it is not yet known why they have chosen to take up patrols in this area. We have a cargo ship full of artifacts taken from the surface of Hades, Nav 6 that must go to Karatkius for analysis. We need a pilot to sweep through this route, including Nav Points #6, #24, #23, #22, & #0, annihilating any known pirates along the way.
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